Journey to Jo'burg: A South African Story
by Beverley Naidoo (Author) Eric Velasquez (Illustrator)
The bestselling classic set in South Africa during the apartheid era, in which two siblings must face the dangers of their divided country. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 7 to 8, especially during homeschooling. It's a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.
Mma lives and works in Johannesburg, far from the village thirteen-year-old Naledi and her younger brother, Tiro, call home. When their baby sister suddenly becomes very sick, Naledi and Tiro know that they need to bring their mother back in order to save their sister's life. Bravely, secretly, they set off on the long journey to the big city to find Mma. It isn't until they finally reach Jo'burg that they see up close what life is like for black citizens across South Africa--and begin to really question the unfair and dangerous laws of apartheid.
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Publishers Weekly
Naledi, 13, and her younger brother Tiro live with their grandmother and their aunt while their mother works in far-away Johannesburg. When Dineo, their baby sister, gets sick, Naledi and Tiro decide to find Mma (mother in Tswana) and bring her home. The trip takes several days, carrying them into a world that is both larger than they imagined, and more restricted for blacks than they ever thought possible. Mma is located; she goes home with them, even though her white employer threatens to hire a new maid in her absence. Mma takes Dineo to the hospital, and the baby lives. Naledi has begun her own journey: she has witnessed an innocent black youth's arrest; she met Grace, who has lost family in the struggle for freedom. And she gains a new understanding of her country. There are many viewpoints in this story: Mma is trying to survive; Grace struggles for dignity. But the author's gift is in translating violent TV images into a provocative, eloquent story about the human spirit, from its first flicker to full flame.
Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.
School Library Journal
Review quotes
JUV039120 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Prejudice & Racism
JUV016010 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | Africa
JUV013070 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Siblings
JUV030010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Africa
